No person should ever have to choose between exercising their right to vote and staying safe and healthy.

With the persistent COVID-19 public health situation, and the detrimental impacts we saw this have on the April 7 election, we must do more to safeguard our elections and ensure the sanctity of our democracy. That is why mail-in voting is crucial to ensuring that we have accessible and safe elections for the remainder of 2020. We simply cannot allow the confusion and fear that surrounded the spring election to happen again. This is not a partisan issue, but rather about protecting the vital right to vote and keeping people safe.

Recent data shows Americans are extremely concerned that the coronavirus pandemic will disrupt voting in November’s presidential election, according to a new poll from Pew Research Center. They also overwhelmingly support allowing everyone to vote by mail, with almost three out of four Americans favoring universal access to mail voting, regardless of political identity. 

I am proud to be an author of a bill here in Wisconsin which will ensure that the remainder of Wisconsin’s 2020 elections are done via mail-in absentee ballot, with limited polls open for those unable to use a mail-in system, in order to prevent voter disenfranchisement and protect our democracy during these unprecedented times. This legislation, if passed, would ensure a vote-by-mail system. This is the best solution to protect both public health and our democracy for all Wisconsinites.

You can request your absentee ballot for the remaining 2020 elections today by visiting MyVote.wi.gov.